K-pop giants BTS are set to make a return with their first album in four years. Three hardcore city-based fans spell out their hopes, share their essential playlists, and map out a perfect Mumbai Darshan for the band
BTS at the 64th Grammy Awards. PIC COURTESY/Bangtan TV on Youtube
In a move that might have irked some journalists, Korean boyband BTS ditched the usual press release route, and sent out handwritten notes to BTS ARMY Gold Members around the world last week. “2026.03.20” the subtitle of the note mentioned. On January 5, a formal press release finally confirmed it was the day the much-awaited 14-track untitled comeback album (after members enlisted in the South Korean armed forces in 2022) would be released.
A scan of the handwritten note received by BTS ARMY Gold members last week. PIC COURTESY/BTS MOMENTS ON X
What’s more, the statement also mentions that a world tour announcement is scheduled for January 14. Fans will know that this only adds fuel to the speculations of an India debut, after member Kim Tae-hyung said in a livestream last month, “Namaste, Indian ARMYs [BTS fans]. See you next year.”
Runs in the family
While the band has been away, fans found ways to keep in touch. I re-watched Run BTS episodes, organised a BTS-themed event, danced to their songs, celebrated their birthdays, and watched their live streams. BTS has always shared meaningful messages through their songs.
BTS members Jung Kook (left) and Jimin after their military discharge on 11 June 2025. PIC COURTESY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
I’m excited to see what message their upcoming album will bring to us. I’m ready to buy tickets as soon as the ticketing goes live. I’m going with my mom; that was decided a long time ago. My mom’s favourite is Kim Tae-hyung aka V, by the way, and she loves Jimin and Jungkook a lot too. We will dress up as quirky as we can, and we already know most of their lyrics and chorus dance steps. Nothing’s going to hold us back.
Ayesha Shaikh, K-culture events organiser
Don’t go easy
I have been bingeing on previous concerts like Permission to Dance, and Love Yourself, in anticipation of the comeback. I hope the album is an energetic one, and not a soft ballad-style comeback.
Esha Gupta, BTS fan club member
Worth the wait
The wait felt long, but it never felt empty. The solo projects, archival content, and even their individual journeys during the hiatus kept the connection alive. The pause allowed both the band and the fans to grow. I’m expecting a sense of reflection and evolution from the new album. Music that carries the weight of their individual experiences but comes together cohesively as BTS. I’d love to see that balance they do so well: emotional depth alongside scale and confidence.
Something that feels grounded, but still unmistakably larger than life. If the Mumbai debut rumours are true, we are in for a blast. Attending their concert in Bangkok in 2019 and experiencing their performance live with the energy, precision, and connection with the audience is a memory that still stands out as deeply special.
Supriya Joshi, comedian
BTS’s day out
In case of a January 14 miracle, Supriya Joshi plans a Mumbai Darshan for the members based on their personalities
>> For RM, I’d start with a quiet heritage walk in South Mumbai with a trip to an art gallery and a bookstore, followed by coffee, giving him space to observe and reflect.
>> Jin would experience Mumbai through a street food crawl with vada pav and pav bhaji, and a stop at an Irani café.
>> For J-Hope, I’d take him somewhere high-energy like Bandra’s streets, or maybe a dance studio session.
Kala Ghoda. FILE PIC
>> SUGA feels like someone who’d appreciate stillness, so a late-night drive along Marine Drive.
>> Jimin would enjoy the softer, more intimate side of the city, so a sunset walk at Bandstand or Carter Road, petting every cat we meet along the way.
>> V would love Mumbai’s aesthetic, story-filled spaces around Kala Ghoda, or old neighbourhoods with character.
>> Jungkook would possibly enjoy the city in its most unfiltered form, with night walks, local food joints, and soaking in the everyday rhythm of Mumbai.
Need a recap?
Get a quick refresher in the band’s journey by tuning into:
>> 2 Cool 4 Skool, the band’s 2013 debut album
>> BTS’s album BE (2020)
>> Break The Silence (2020), a docu-film that captures the journey behind a tour
>> Bring The Soul (2019), a peek into life behind the spotlight
>> D-Day, Suga’s debut 2023 album
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
